Variable equalizer

ABSTRACT

A variable equalizer requiring no inductive elements comprises a pair of four-terminal networks having selected external impedance characteristics. Variable impedance elements are connected to the output terminals of the four-terminal networks, and a third network, having an impedance transfer function proportional to the input impedance ratio of the two four-terminal networks, is connected to the input terminals of the latter networks.

United States Paten 1 1 1111 3,743,959

Kobayashi 1 July 3, 1973 [54] VARIABLE EQUALIZER 3,486,123 lZ/lgg?) ghin et a1.I

3,316.3 4 l t [75] Inventor: Hirokazu Kohayashi, Tokyo, Japan oeman r e a [73] Assignee: Nippon Electric Company, Ltd., primary Examiner-Roy Lake Tokyo, Japan Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Dahl [22] Filed: 21 1970 Attorney-Sandoe, Hopgood & Calimafde 21 Appl. No.: 99,856

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Appli ation Pri rity D t A variable equalizer requiring no inductive elements Dec. 23 1969 Japan 44/104105 comlrises a Pair Of mumeminal new/("ks having lected external impedance characteristics. Variable im- 52 us. c1. 330/31 330/21 Pedance elements are connected to the out!)ut termis 1 1m. (:1 H63, 3/04 lbw-terminal netwmks, and a third network, 581 Field of Search 330/21 31 94 having an impedance transferfunction proportional to the input impedance ratio of the two four-terminal net- [56] References Cited works, is connected to the input terminals of the latter UNITED STATES PATENTS netwmks" 3,407,360 10/1968 Buhr 330/31 X 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Fli R2 1 r 4 I 0 i MW, 5 M g i 1 l 1 I I I I A 1 I l l 2 g N. II 1 7? IR I R 1 l I i. i i i 7777 Ng 7777 qu PMENIEfl-Jlll am FIG.I

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NVENTOR. HIROKAZU KOBAYASHI BY ,%6,/%hff ATTORNE 8 Amwv 226 FREQUENCY (MHZ) VARIABLE EQUALIZER This invention relates generally to equalizers, and more particularly to a variable equalizer having a novel circuit configuration. An equalizer is a passive circuit device designed to compensate for an undesired amplitude-frequency and/or phase-frequency characteristic of an electrical or electronic system or component.

In most of the conventional variable equalizers which comprise several two-terminal networks of inverse circuit configuration, capacitance and inductance elements are required, and it is thus impossible to realize a variable equalizer of the known design in the form of an integrated circuit (1C). This is mainly due to the fact that it is very difficult to form an inductance in the form of an IC. In the conventional variable equalizer, therefore, discrete circuit elements must of necessity be used.

It is an object of this invention to provide a variable equalizer formed without the use of an inverse network or inductance elements when the loss characteristic deviation of the equalizer, caused by frequency deviation, should be unidirectional as in a cable.

The variable equalizer of this invention comprises a pair of four-terminal networks which have their external characteristics identical to each other, or different from each other only with respect to their impedance levels. Two variable impedance elements are connected to the output terminals of the pair of networks and are operated as mutually inverse variable impedances. Another network having a transfer function proportional to the input impedance ratio of the pair of networks has its terminals connected to the input terminals of the pair of networks.

The method of analyzing a variable equalizer proposed by l-l. W. Bode is well-known (Reference: BSTJ,

April, 1938, pp. 229-244). This method is based on the following principle. When the transfer function T of a four-terminal network N including a variable impedance element R is expressed as independently of R the transmission loss 0 is by N and R where Y=X- l/X+l This method is characterized by the variable characteristic of the transmission loss 0 which varies with the variation of the value of R, when the third and following terms on the right side of Equation (3) are negligible with respect to the second term, in such a manner that the shape of the frequency characteristic is constant, and only its loss characteristic varies by the amounts determined by R (because 0,, is a constant loss and Y is determined by R). It is, however, necessary to use the conventional inverse two-terminal networks which in turn require capacitance and inductance elements in order to realize a circuit satisfying Equation (1 and having a satisfactory variation range of the loss characteristic.

To the accomplishment of the above and to such further objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a variable equalizer substantially as defined in the appended claims and as described in the following specification taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional variable equalizer;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a variable equalizer according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a variable equalizer according to an embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the characteristics of the variable equalizer shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional equalizer, wherein impedance Z is an inverse circuit of impedance Z A further description of this circuit is omitted in this specification' since this circuit is described in sufficient detail in the above-mentioned Bode article.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a variable equalizer of this invention. The four-terminal networks N, and N shown therein have their input-output characteristics identical to each other, or are different from each other only with respect to their respective impedance levels. Variable impedance elements R and R respectively coupled to terminals 5-5 and 6-6 of networks N2 and N satisfy the following equation.

ut 172 a 0 where R,, is a constant impedance with the same dimension as impedance elements R,, and R,, ,and

a is the impedance level ratio of networks N to N A network N has a group of intermediate terminals thatare coupled respectively to the terminals 3-3 and 4-4 of networks N and N Network A has a transfer function between its input and output terminals 1, l and 2, 2 that is given by the following equation,

where Z is an impedance of network N looking from network N Z is an impedance of network N looking from network N and P is a function only of network N Network N can be easily realized by the use of an active circuit.

Assuming that the impedances of network N looking from terminals 3 and 3' when terminals 5 and 5' are opened and shorted are 2,, and Z respectively, that the impedance of the network N looking from the terminals 5 and 5' when terminals 3 and 3 are opened and shorted are Z and Z respectively, and that the impedance level of network N is a-times that of N network, then impedances Z and Z, are expressed as r lo ut 2s v1 Z20) Z2 10' (R02 2s/ v2 20) The factor a in Equation (7) is the same as that in Equation (5).

Substituting Equations (5) and (7) for Equation (6), we obtain e Z /R ewz R0 Za Furthermore the transmission loss 0 of the network is and Y and C are the same symbols as employed in Equation (4).

A comparison of Equations (8) and (10) with Equations (l) and (3) makes it evident that the variable equalizer of this invention has a function equivalent to that of the two cascade-connected variable equalizers proposed by Bode.

The variation characteristifc of the equalizer of this invention is determined by Z ,,/Z or Z /Z Thus, by choosing the impedance level ratio of 2,, and Z versus R it is possible to adjust the distribution of 4), and dz and to minimize the deviation therebetween, corresponding to the third and following terms of the righthand side of-Equation (10).

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of this invention, wherein the references N,, N N R,, and R,, correspond to the references N, N N and R, and R in FIG. 2. The values of these elements are determined as follows.

aR =R aR =R C, =aC

. Assuming that the current amplification factor, the base resistance, and the emitter resistance of the grounded-emitter transistor Q are {3 r,,, and r respectively and that the input impedances of networks N and N are Z and Z respectively, the transfer function from terminal 1 to 2 is expressed as T [Z /r /B r 'l- Z Assuming that r /fl r Z,

Equation (13) is reduced to Equation (6) is satisfied, and the variation character- .istic of this invention is, therefore, derived from Equation (ll) as follows:

FIG. 4 shows the variation characteristic curves for values of .1: equal to 0, 7%, l, 3 and for values of the circuit elements in FIG. 3 as follows.

R R,,= 500 n c, C 3,120pF Practically, these values areobtained by an aprpoximation in response to the required characteristics.

inequality (14) applies for most generally used transistors such as the 28C 356 manufactured and sold by Nippon Electric Company. When that transistor is used in the circuit of FIG. 3 with the circuit element values listed above, r,,, B and r in Equation (13) are 50 ohm, and 2.5 ohm respectively.

Thus (r /B) r (SO/100) 2.5 3ohm as compared to a value of impedance 2 of between 50ohm and 780ohm.

As has been mentioned above, the variable equalizer according to this invention can be constructed without using inductance elements and can thus be easily re'alized by an IC.

In the above description, it is assumed that the product of the values of the two variable impedance elements is constant. However, this limitation is not always necessary for the purpose of this invention. For example, when the values of the two variable impedance elements are inversely determined or, in other words, when the value of one element increases as the value of the other decreases, the variable equalizer with a somewhat different deviation characteristic can operate equally as the one described above. This is because the variation characteristic does not include R as clarified in Equations and (ll).

Furthermore, although only one specific embodi-' ment (as in FIG. 3) of the invention has been illustrated in detail, it is particularly understood that several modi- 1 10 vl Zs vI where Z is the impedance of said first two-port net work looking from said second port for the open state of said first port Z and Z are the impedances of said first two-port network looking from said first port for the open and closed states of said second port, respectively, and R,, is the impedance of said first variable impedance element; a second two-port network having a third port terminated by a second variable impedance element and a fourth port, the input impedance (2,) of said second two-port network looking from said fourth port being given approximately by 2 10 u: n n 20) where the constant a is a positive real number, and R 6 is the impedance of said second variable impedance element and equal to uRrf/R a four-port network having a fifth port connected .to said second port. a sixth port connected to said fourth port, and seventh and eighth ports, the transfer function of the circuit section between said seventh port and said eighth port being equal to PZ|/Z where P is a constant determined only by said four-port network, the input signal of said equalizer being supplied to said seventh port and the output signal of said equalizer being obtained at said eighth port.

2. The variable equalizer of claim 1, in which said first and second four-terminal networks each comprise a passive circuit containing no inductances, and said third network includes an active element 3. The variable equalizer network of claim 3, in which said third network active element is transistor having base, collector, and emitter terminals, said first four-terminal network including first and second resistors coupled to said emitter terminal, and a capacitor coupled across one of said first and second resistors, said first variable impedance being coupled across said first and second resistors.

4. The variable equalizer of claim 4, in which said second four-terminal network comprises third and fourth resistors connected to said collector terminal, and a second capacitor coupled across one of said third and fourth resistors, said second variable impedance being coupled across said third and fourth impedances.

3,743,959 July 3, 1973 Patent No. Dated Inventor) Hirokazu Kobayashi It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6', Claim 3, line 17, 3" should be -2-.

Claim 4, line 26, "4" should be --3--.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of November 1973.

(SEAL) AtteSt:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents FORM po-woso (10-09) HM... 

1. A variable equalizer comprising: a first two-port network having a first port terminated by a first variable impedance element and a second port, the input impedance (Z1) of said first two-port network looking from said second port being given approximately by Z1 Z1o . (Rv1+ Z2s/Rv1 + Z2o) where Z1o is the impedance of said first two-port network looking from said second port for the open state of said first port Z2o and Z2s are the impedances of said first two-port network looking from said first port for the open and closed states of said second port, respectively, and Rv1 is the impedance of said first variable impedance element; a second twoport network having a third port terminated by a second variable impedance element and a fourth port, the input impedance (Z2) of said second two-port network looking from said fourth port being given approximately by Z2 zA1o . (Rv2 + aZ2s/Rv2 + aZP 2o) where the constant a is a positive real number, and Rv2 is the impedance of said second variable impedance element and equal to aRo2/Rv1; a four-port network having a fifth port connected to said second port, a sixth port connected to said fourth port, and seventh and eighth ports, the transfer function of the circuit section between said seventh port and said eighth port being equal to PZ1/Z2, where P is a constant determined only by said four-port network, the input signal of said equalizer being supplied to said seventh port and the output signal of said equalizer being obtained at said eighth port.
 2. The variable equalizer of claim 1, in which said first and second four-terminal networks each comprise a passive circuit containing no inductances, and said third network includes an active element.
 3. The variable equalizer network of claim 3, in which said third network active element is transistor having base, collector, and emitter terminals, said first four-terminal network including first and second resistors coupled to said emitter terminal, and a capacitor coupled across one of said first and second resistors, said first variable impedance being coupled across said first and second resistors.
 4. The variable equalizer of claim 4, in which said second four-terminal network comprises third and fourth resistors connected to said collector terminal, and a second capacitor coupled across one of said third and fourth resistors, said second variable impedance being coupled across said third and fourth impedances. 